The Jabuticaba: when tropical fruit grows on the tree trunk

The jabuticaba is a tree that grows in the southern provinces of Brazil. The particularity of this plant is that its fruits grow directly on the trunk and not only at the end of the branches.

After flowering, the trunks of jabuticaba trees become adorned with lots of small brown balls, giving the trees a unique appearance. The fruits look like large grains of red grapes with a diameter of 3 to 4 cm. Their skin is brown and rather thick. The flesh is transparent and whitish.

A jabuticaba tree

The jabuticaba bear fruit twice a year, but in optical conditions, ie with regular supply of rainfall like in the tropics, they can bloom and bear fruit almost all year round. Their fruits are eaten fresh or as juice.

As they can be preserved only for a short time (after 3 or 4 days they begin to ferment), they are also eaten cooked, for example, in pies, jams or made into wine or liquor.

Jabuticaba fruit

Due to their short shelf life they are virtually unknown outside Brazil. However, in the country they are very popular, so much so that the city of Contagem devotes an annual festival, called “Jabuticaba Festival” to them.